HOCKEY: Goals in the first and last 30 seconds by Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff provided a vibrant storyline to Leinster's 2-1 defeat of Munster in the second match of the Interprovincial championship at Grange Road on Saturday.

Yet the script might well have been altered dramatically but for a mature save by the Leinster captain, Nigel Henderson, from David Eakins in the closing stages before a clearance by Joe Brennan was collected by Graham Shaw to put Sherriff through for the winner.

The release by Antwerp Dragons of the Wild Geese, Butler and Sherriff, to Leinster's cause gave a focal point to a closely-fought match. They were undoubtedly the main players, straight from the first thrust of the game when Butler launched Sherriff (via a touch-on by Shaw) to fire in a shot which yielded a penalty stroke for Butler to convert.

Munster, though, remained undaunted. Colm Brady came off the bench for a forceful first appearance while John Jermyn and David Hobbs raided menacingly, and they were back in the reckoning when Eakins whipped home a drag-flick equaliser three minutes into the second half.

Having also lost 2-1 to Ulster, retention of the title will be virtually a hopeless cause for Munster when they play host to the tournament stage of the championship in March. It remains to be seen whether Leinster or Ulster will hold pole position after their meeting on December 7th.

LEINSTER: N Henderson (capt); R Gormley, A Bothwell, J Brennan, B Groves; W Powderly, S Butler, A Browne; J Sherriff, G Elliott, G Shaw. Subs: J Goulding, D Bane.

MUNSTER: M Ruddle; S Nicholson, K Burns, D Hales, P Smith; J Black, J Ahern, N Buttimer (capt); D Hobbs, D Eakins, J Jermyn. Subs: C Brady, T Dunne, P McLaughlin, M Pedersen.

Umpires: G Burns, G Caulwell.